It’s not every day that a cruise line blows out 130 candles. Still, HX Expeditions has decided to do so in style with a year-long celebration, a great booking campaign, and savings hefty enough to make the average traveller reach for their credit card.

The veteran of expedition cruising, HX, is ringing in its anniversary year by offering savings of up to AU$8,000 per person on selected voyages, with an added AU$900 “early bird” incentive for those who commit before 30 September 2025. Clearly, loyalty isn’t just rewarded in cruise land — it’s positively celebrated.

Savings That Stretch From Pole to Pole

The campaign is no half-hearted affair. HX has thrown open its global portfolio of itineraries, stretching from Antarctica’s frozen wonders to the steamy rainforests of the Galápagos. The savings on offer are as wide-ranging as the destinations:

• Antarctica – up to AU$8,000pp off

• Galápagos – up to AU$4,775pp off

• Greenland – up to AU$2,675pp off

• Svalbard – up to AU$2,775pp off

• Alaska – up to AU$2,450pp off

• Northwest Passage – up to AU$6,550pp off

It’s a roll-call of the bucket list, with a discount attached. Early bookers between 1 and 30 September 2025 pocket an additional AU$900 off their voyage. That’s the sort of incentive that could tip the undecided into reaching for their passports.

A Handshake with the Travel Trade

In a nod to the fact that the travel trade has been HX’s backbone for over a century, the line equips its agency partners with a campaign kit that even the most time-poor agent can use. That includes detailed pitch documents, a one-page fact sheet, and enough marketing ammunition to make selling seamless.

Amber Wilson, HX’s Director of Sales for Australia and New Zealand, is refreshingly direct about the strategy:

“Our goal is to work closely with our sales partners to drive fresh booking momentum. With compelling price offers, strong marketing support, and easy-to-use sales resources, we’re setting the stage for a successful spring.”

The line is also taking its message to the public with a marketing blitz worthy of a significant anniversary: TV spots, print campaigns, digital banners, and social media pushes designed to funnel customers straight into agency doors.

The Anniversary Experience: More Than Cake and Confetti

A 130th birthday deserves more than a commemorative keychain, and HX has ensured the on-board celebrations will reflect its pioneering history. Guests will receive a limited-edition anniversary badge, a specially created cocktail (likely as icy as an Antarctic berg), and a bespoke Ocean Bottle to remind them of HX’s sustainability ethos.

Magnus Winvold, HX’s official historian, will deliver exclusive lectures on select voyages. His remit? To bring to life the company’s first voyage in 1896 between Hammerfest and Svalbard and spin tales that link 19th-century exploration to the modern-day expedition guest sipping espresso in the observation lounge.

And, in case the keepsakes weren’t enough, HX promises more anniversary activities will be offered throughout the year, ensuring each guest can raise a toast to history in their own way.

All-Inclusive: Expedition Style

Of course, what HX really trades on is its expedition pedigree. Each voyage includes guided excursions, expert-led science activities, and the sort of educational immersion that would make Sir David Attenborough nod approvingly.

Practical inclusions from expedition jackets and reusable bottles to Wi-Fi, photography services, and even hot tubs and saunas mean the offer is all-inclusive. Guests won’t be nickel-and-dimed at every turn, a relief in an era when some cruise lines appear to charge extra for breathing cabin air.

A Pioneer in Sustainable Cruising

HX’s longevity is no accident. The line has consistently pushed sustainability to the fore, whether through introducing hybrid-powered expedition ships in 2019 or enforcing a strict no-single-use plastics policy onboard. It has made the environment a non-negotiable part of its brand identity, a wise move when your product is literally in nature’s most remote and fragile places.

The “See the World” campaign reinforces this position, offering itineraries that combine adventure with an environmental conscience. Guests might be swaddled in luxury, but the underlying message is respect for the destinations being visited.

For Agents and Travellers Alike

HX’s 130th anniversary offers are manna from heaven for the travel trade: irresistible savings, marketable anniversary fanfare, and a clear focus on trade partnership. For guests, it’s an opportunity to experience once-in-a-lifetime voyages at a price that won’t require mortgaging the family home.

The HX Agent Portal can access the campaign’s details and agent resources. For everyone else, the central campaign hub is at travelhx.com.

As Wilson aptly puts it:

“We’re not just celebrating the anniversary we’re bringing it to life for every guest who travels with us.”

Final Thoughts

HX Expeditions’ 130th anniversary is more than a number; it’s a statement of heritage, resilience, and ambition. By combining genuine savings with an enhanced guest experience and robust trade support, HX is showing that age doesn’t just bring wisdom, it brings vision.

HX’s anniversary season may be the ticket for those seeking an expedition cruise that delivers history, adventure, and value in equal measure. The only catch? You’ll need to book by September 30, 2025, if you fancy that extra AU$900 saving.

After 130 years, HX has undoubtedly earned the right to raise a glass. The question is: will you be aboard to clink one back?

By Alison Jenkins

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